Two-level refrigerator



Aug. 12, 1947. J H B NSON 2,425,505

TWO-LEVEL REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN H- BENSON Aug. 12, 1947.

REFRIGERATOR ZSheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1944 100 M 5 l l l I l Ii 5 5. u 7 n i MM WWW .llll J r, W H WM, 4 MM Patented Aug. 12, 394? 'EWEB JEEVEL REFRHGERATOR Application November 18, 19%, Serial No. 564,129

t dllalms. (Cl. 312-461) invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet construction. Basically the invention contemplates an open top refrigerator cabinet hav= ing two top levels and two temperature levels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide openings which are separately accessible and provide a top construction which is readily adapted for table use in a domestic kitchen.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the cabinet showing one closure member in open position.

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation showing the tops closed.

Fig. 3 shows a third position in which the back top member is swung forward for work table use.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the position similar to that of Fig. i. Fig. 5 shows the insulating closure member of rear compartment. in open position,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the storage baskets in the front compartment.

In Fig. 1 the cabinet is shown generally at it with a closure member 28 to cover the compressor compartment and two drawers 22 and 23 for vegetable storage and the like. The cabinet rests on a base 2 3. The top of the cabinet has a portion at level it and another portion at level 25; These two portions are separated by a wall 21 between a front storage compartment 2% and a back storage compartment 2%. There are two closure members for the back storage compartment. One is shown at it and is a hinged and recessed type of closure member. The other member is shown at 3i resting across the top of the member 38) and hinged at a point 32 to an L-shaped closure member 83 which serves as a top for the front compartment. In the front compartment baskets to slide at two levels it and t2. The back compartment may be used as a deep freeze unit having temperatures below 32 F. while the front compartment may be maintained at 35 to 42 for normal food storage. The bottom of the closure member 3| is intended to be a work surface and can be made of abrasion resistant material such as hard wood or other material which may be used for cutting in the same manner as a bread board is now used. When this surface is desired, it is simply necessary to swing the top member 3| on its hinge 32 to the position shown in Figs. 3 or 5 where it becomes flush with the foot of member 33 to form a flat work table across the entire cabinet.

In the closed position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the top presents an attractive appearance and renders the compartments of the cabinet readily accessible.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet, upright walls ineluding a partition defining a front and a back compartment, the compartments being open at the top at spaced levels, a primary closure mem her for the higher of said compartments arranged to lie flush with the top of the opening thereof, a panel adapted to serve as a closure member for the lower compartment and provided with an upward extension to the top level of the higher compartment, the extension abutting the parti tion, and a second panel hinged to said extension and adapted to serve as a secondary closure for the higher compartment, said second panel being movable on its hinges to a position resting with in said first panel to provide a level top over the entire cabinet.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet, upright walls ineluding a partition defining a front and a back compartment, the compartments being open at the top at spaced levels, a, primary closure memher for the higher of said compartments arranged to lie flush with the top of the opening thereof, a panel adapted to serve as a closure member for the lower compartment and provided with an exten sion to the top level of the other compartment abutting the partition between said compartments, and a second panel hinged to said extension and adapted to serve as a secondary closure for said other compartment, and a bread cutting surface on the bottom of said second panel, the

latter being movable to a position resting within said first panel to provide a level working surface over the entire cabinet.

3. In a refrigerating cabinet, upright walls including a partition defining a front and a back. compartment, the compartments being open at the top at spaced levels, the rear being higher than the front, an L-shaped closure for the front compartment having the foot of the L extending to the top of the rear compartment, and a cover member for the rear compartment hinged to the foot of the front closure and arranged to swing into resting relation within the front closure to provide a level working surface over the entire cabinet.

,4. In a refrigerating cabinet, upright walls including a partition defining a front and a back compartment, the compartments being open at the top at spaced levels, the rear being higher than the front, a primary closure member for the rear compartment the top of which is flush with the top of the cabinet, an L-shaped closure for the front compartment having the foot of the L extending to the top of the rear compartment, and a secondary closure for the rear compartment hinged to the foot of the front closure e: 1

and arranged to swing into resting relation witl'iiln the front closure to provide a level working surface over the entire cabinet, said secondary closure having-an abrasion resistant work surface on the bottom.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, upright walls inoluding a partition defining two adjacent partments, the compartments being open at the top at different levels, and a single closure means consisting of two members hinged together, one of which covers the higher compartment and the other of which covers the lower compartment, I

4 a 6. A two-level top refrigerator cabinet hav separated compartments opening at the top at different levels, a separate closure means for the higher compartment, a flat panel for coverin said higher compartment closure means, an L- shaped panel adapted as a closure for the lower compartment, the footof the L extending upwardiy to the edge of the higher compartment and being hinged to the fiat panel adjacent said edge, said L-shaped closure panel serving as a shelf when swung over the flat cover panel, and the flat cover panel. serving as a cutting board when swung over on the L-shaped panel.

. JOHN H. BENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 90,360 Copeland July 25, 1933 176,389 Weller Apr. 18, 1876 598,685

Thorp Feb. 8, 1898 

